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Wong defends Labor's record on super

Finance Minister Penny Wong won't be drawn into "gossip" about whether the federal government plans to adjust the superannuation system in the May budget.

The opposition continues to press the government to reveal what changes it intends to make to super, with rumours it might possibly cut back on tax concessions for the rich.

Sacked Labor minister Simon Crean has said the government should not raise taxes just to fund a return to a budget surplus.

Senator Wong was not forthcoming when asked about speculation the government was planning a raid on super to finance costly promises such as the Gonski school funding changes and the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

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"I don't get into hypotheticals," she told Sky News on Wednesday.

"I certainly don't get into gossip and what might or might not have been discussed in a cabinet committee."

Senator Wong said the Gillard government was continuing the Labor legacy of the Hawke-Keating era on superannuation by ensuring there was wealth, opportunity and fairness for all.

Increasing superannuation guarantees from nine to 12 per cent and giving low-income workers a tax break on their super showed the government had a proud track record on this issue, she said.

Liberal MP Jamie Briggs said Labor was booking up expenditure against revenue sources which did not exist.

"All we have seen is deficits and debt over the last five-and-a-half years from this Labor party," he told Sky News.

Labor MP Richard Marles said it was Labor that set up the superannuation regime and the current government was increasing employer payments from nine to 12 per cent for some workers.

"If Jamie's mob ever got the reins of power, there is no guarantee there would be a superannuation guarantee under an Abbott government," Mr Marles told Sky news.

"We have made it very clear there won't be any taxes on superannuation withdrawals."

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott said he feared the government would try to keep within its $300 billion debt ceiling by dipping into the savings of ordinary Australian households.

"The prime minister will try and buy her future by raiding your superannuation savings," he told reporters in Melbourne.

Mr Abbott said last week's comments by former Labor ministers Martin Ferguson and Simon Crean showed the government planned to tinker with super arrangements in the upcoming budget.

Labor should be trying to bring people together, not engaging in the "politics of envy" when it came to looking at tax breaks for Australia's richest self-funded retirees, he said.

The super savings of Australians would be secure under any future Abbott-led coalition government, he added.